Mercedes-AMG EQS hero electric limo in the works - report

Mercedes-Benz is planning to bestow its luxury electric concept car, the EQS, with an AMG-tuned (programmed?) drive system capable of around 450kW of power, according to a new report.

UK outlet Autocar reports the AMG EQS will be the German marque's answer to rivals like the Tesla Model S, Porsche Taycan and next-gen Jaguar XJ.

The report cites a high-ranking Mercedes engineer who claims the car will have reserves to "equal those of the existing S63 4Matic", which is powered by a 450kW/900Nm 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 engine.

No surprise then, the Autocar report suggests expected outputs could produce more than 600bhp (447kW) and 663lb-ft (898Nm). The price tag would of course be substantial, given the non-AMG EQS is expected to eclipse the $200,000 mark, while the AMG S63L is priced from $393,000 in Australia.

The AMG EQS should also neatly better the 'regular' EQS concept's 0-100km/h time of 4.5 seconds – and likely also that of the S63L's 4.3-second run.

Drive approached Mercedes-Benz for confirmation, but representatives were unable to comment on the reports.

The EQS, which lives in the same large limousine class as the established S-Class icon, made its debut in concept form at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. A production model is expected to go on sale in the next two years, promising a 700km driving range and a 0-to-100kmh time of 4.5 seconds.

It will join the already available EQC SUV and incoming EQA small SUV, EQB crossover and EQV van in Mercedes-Benz's fully-electric EQ range, which will also eventually include an electric G-Class off-roader and a smaller EQE upmarket saloon.

Autocar reports the latter two are likely to share the same high-performance driveline as the AMG EQS.

Mercedes-Benz has been clear about its plans to become fully CO2-neutral in the next few years, with Mercedes-Benz Cars CEO and Daimler AG Chairman Ola Källenius detailing plans to unveil a host of electric cars in the near future.

"It is true the cost structure of electric vehicles is higher than what we are used to on combustion-based vehicles. [But] we feel as volumes go up, from tens of thousands of vehicles to hundreds of thousands of vehicles, we can start reaping benefits of scale," Mr Källenius said.